Paint applicator



y 1962 c. A. CRAWFORD 3,036,327

PAINT APPLICATOR Filed Jufie 16, 1958 CZ/nez. Es ZkHM F-DR J ENTOR,

3,036,327 PAINT APPLICATOR Charles A. Crawford, 1028 N. Pasadena, Azusa,Calif. Filed June 16, 1958, Ser. No. 742,178 2 Claims. (Cl. -522) Thisinvention relate generally to an improved paint applicator; moreparticularly, it relates to an efiicient hand operated applicator forapplying a uniform accurate coating of paint to walls and ceilings.

Briefly described, the paint applicator of the present inventioncomprises an applicator roller in tangential engagement with a transferroller. Manually operated pump means are provided for delivering paint,from a container forming a part of the applicator, substantially at theline of tangency between the rollers, thus facilitating even spreadingof paint. Such delivery of the paint is under the visual and manualcontrol of the operator while holding the paint applicator in operativeposition for painting. The applicator roller is so positioned thateither vertical or horizontal surfaces may be painted without changingthe attitude of the device. Trough and passage means are provided fordraining any excess paint without substantial accumulation and returningthe paint to the container.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved roller type paint applicator wherein improved feed or deliveryof paint to a roller provides more eflicient, uniform and accuratepainting results.

An object of this invention is the pro-vision of an improved paintapplicator adapted for manual and visual control by an operator toprovide convenient and efficient delivery of paint to rollers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a paint applicator whichaccords improved efliciency and uniformity of delivery of paint bydistributing paint at the line of tangency between an applicator rollerand a transfer roller.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a paintapplicator having the foregoing objectives and having means for drainingpaint from beneath rollers and conducting it to a container from whichpaint is pumped to the rollers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact unitary paintapplicator wherein the applicator mechanism has an attached containerfrom which paint is pumped to a roller.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a paintapplicator adapted for painting either vertical or horizontal surfaceswithout changing the attitude of the device.

Other objects and features of the present invention, as well as manyadvantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the artfrom a consideration of the following description, the appended claims,and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an applicator of the present inventionbeing held in operative position for applying paint;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational sectional View taken at line 2--2 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, of theapplicator of FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of a modified form of the presentinvention.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIG- URES l, 2 and 3, thepresent invention is shown as including a cylindrical paint applicatorroller 10, which has a covering of material adapted to transfer paint toa surface to be painted. This covering may be made of a material such assheeps Wool which is adapted to receive paint and efficiently transferit to a surface. The roller 19 is rotatably supported in a housing 12having end walls 14 and a bottom 16, which has a slightly curved outerportion, as shown in FIGURE 2, to conform to the curvature of theapplicator roller 10 and to form a trough for receiving excess paintfrom the roller. Roller 10 i journalled on thumb screws 20, as shown inFIGURE 3. Each thumb screw 20 has a knurled head and has a threadedshank portion for threaded engagement in an opening of an end wall 14 ofhousing 12, as shown. The thumb screws provide means for ready removaland replacement of the applicator roller.

A feed or transfer roller 22 is rotatably mounted in parallel tangentialrelation to the applicator roller. The transfer roller is journalled onthumb screws 24, which are similar to thumb screws 20. Bores 26 inroller 22 are adapted to receive the ends of the thumb screws.

Delivery of paint to the applicator roller is effected from a bentdelivery tube or pipe 28 which extends substantially over the line oftangential engagement between the transfer roller and the applicatorroller. Delivery tube 28 extends across the back portion of the trough12, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. In the illustrated preferred form ofthe invention, the trough is formed integrally with the upper part ofthe hand grip 38, which extends from a cover 32 adapted for threadedengagement with an upper neck portion of a paint container 34. Thecontainer has a quantity of paint therein and serves as a source ofsupply which is carried by the applicator of this invention. Thedelivery tube 28 is threaded into a vertical bore 38 in the upperportion of hand grip 30. This bore communicates with a vertical bore 40of smaller diameter in the hand grip. The shoulder defined between bores38 and 40 forms a valve seat for a ball check valve 42 which is biasedtowards the seat by a coil spring 44, one end of which engages the innerend of tube 28, as shown.

A manually operable piston or plunger 46 is disposed in another verticalbore 45 in the hand grip. An annular groove 48 near the inner end of theplunger accommodates a sealing ring 50 to provide a movable fluid sealbetween the plunger and the bore. Interposed between the end of plunger46 and the bore is an helical spring 52, which urges the plunger upward,as the plunger is viewed in FIGURE 2.

A bore 56 of slightly smaller diameter than bore 45 interconnects bore45 with a bore 58 of the same dia-rn eter as bore 45. Threadedlyconnected into the end portion of bore 58, which end portion is definedby a boss 60 extending from hand grip 30, is a downwardly ex tendingpipe 62 which terminates at a point near the bottom of container 34. Aball check valve 64 is normally seated against the upper end pipe 62 inthe position illustrated in FIGURE 2. When the applicator is tipped orinverted, this ball valve engages the shoulder defined between bores 58and 56, which forms a valve seat for cooperating with the ball toprevent the escape of paint from container 34.

A transverse bore 68 in hand grip 30 communicates between bore 40 andthe lower part of bore 45. The outer end of bore 68 is closed by athreaded clean-out plug 70 which is removable to permit cleaning of theinterior of the hand grip.

A drain passage 72 in hand grip 30 communicates between the trough 12and the interior of paint container 34 through a larger bore 74. In theend portion of bore 74 is threaded a plug 76 which has a transverse slotin its upper portion intersecting an axial opening. The slot and holenormally cooperate with a ball 78 in an obvious manner to permit thedraining of paint into container 34. When the applicator is tipped orinverted, this ball 78 engages the shoulder defined between bores 74 and72,

which forms a valve seat for cooperating with the ball for preventingthe escape of paint. 2

From the foregoing and from examination of FIG- URES l, 2 and 3, thoseversed in the art will understand the operation of the presentinvention. As shown in FIGURE 1, the applicator may be convenientlygrasped and manipulated with one hand, with the oper ators thumb on theplunger 46. When the plunger is 'reciprocated by thumb action, a partialvacuum in the paint. On each upstroke of the plunger, the ball 64 liftsto allow paint to move upwardly through pipe 62 and bore 58 into tube 40and delivery tube 28.

Paint delivered from delivery tube 28 spreads along the line of tangencybetween the two rollers, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and is thusdistributed along the length of applicator roller 10. Rotation of thisroller on a surface being painted rotates the transfer roller againstthe applicator roller in an action which assists in distributing paintevenly over the surface of the applicator roller. In applying paint theapplicator is moved back and borth vertically for walls or horizontallyfor ceilings, while the applicator roller 18 uniformly and accuratelyapplies the paint.

Delivery of paint to the applicatorroller may be accurately regulatedunder the direct visual and manual control of the operator. The operatormanipulates plunger 46 to deliver paint to the rollers at the properrate. Any excess paint from the rollers drips into the trough formed bythe lower part of housing 12 and is promptly drained through passage 72into the container 34. Therefore, the applicator roller does not operateby rotating in a pool of paint. Instead, delivery of paint to the rolleris by transfer from between the two rollers and from the transfer roller22 to theapplicator roller.

An advantage of the invention, in addition to the foregoing, is thatpaint may be conveniently applied to either vertical walls or tohorizontal ceilings without changing the attitude of the applicator, asmay be observed from FIGURE 2.

It will be understood that. the device of the present invention is ofcompact and unitary construction, thus facilitating operation by onehand of an operator, with full manual and visual control of the deliveryof paint.

In FIGURE 4 is shown a modified form of the present invention wherein atransverse distributing pipe or manifold 80 is. provided at the end ofdelivery tube 28. The distributing pipe or manifold has orifices spacedalong its length to distribute paint along the line of tangency betweenthe applicator roller and the transfer roller. The structure of theapplicator of FIGURE 4 is otherwise the same as the embodimenthereinbefore described.

This form of the invention increases the uniformity an( accuracy ofdelivery of paint to the rollers and particularly to the feed of paintto the applicator roller 10, and the transfer of paint to the wall orceiling being painted.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood thatthe same is by way of illustration and example only; it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, as manyvariations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art and theinvention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within thescope of the appended claims.

The inventor claims:

1. In a paint applicator, the combination comprising a roller adaptedfor transferring paint to a surface, a transfer roller positioned fortangential engagement with the applicator roller, means for supportingthe rollers, means'for delivering paint substantially to the line oftangency between said rollers, whereby paint is transferred to theapplicator roller, said supporting means including a source of supply ofpaint and including manually operable means for transferring paint fromsaid source to said delivery means, means disposed beneath said rollersfor receiving excess paint and conducting it to said source of supply,and valve means positioned to prevent escape of paint fromsaid source ofsupply upon tipping said applicator.

2. In a paint applicator, the combination comprising a roller adaptedfor transferring paint to a surface, a transfer roller positioned fortangential engagement with the applicator roller, means for supportingthe rollers, and means for delivering paint substantially to the line oftangency between the rollers for transferring paint to the applicatorroller, said supporting means including structure integral with a coverfor a source of supply of paint, said supporting means including meansfor transferring paint from, the source of supply to the delivery means,and said supporting means including means for receiving excess paintfrom the rollers and conducting it to the source of supply.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS459,486 Dunne -Q Sept. 15, 1891 489,828 Peterson Jan. 10, 1893 1,594,591Bettes Aug. 3, 1926 2,284,874 Kokay June 2, 1942 2,398,844 Muggleton etal. Apr. 23, 1946 2,419,338 De Marco Apr. 22, 1947 2,424,323 MillhollandJuly 22, 1947 2,528,657 Hobe Nov. 7, 1950 2,563,842 Johnson Aug. 14,1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,889 Great Britain of 1884 793,449 Great BritainApr. 16, 1958 811,644 France Jan. 23, 1937 843,007 France Mar. 20, 1939

